Car-coupling



(No Moder.) 28heets-Sheet 1. O. VAN SMITH GAR COUPLING.

No. 255,057. Patented Mar.14,-1882.

A"? ,Z A 12 i i j b WITNEEEES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. VAN SMITH.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 255.057. Patented Mar.14,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLIE VAN SMITH, or SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,057, dated March 14, 1882. Application filed December :28, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beir known that I, CHARLIE VAN SMITH, of South Bend,countyof St. Joseph,and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Oouplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

, and exact description thereof, that will enable of the coupling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same in the plane 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an end view of the draw-head. Figs. 4t

and 5 are modifications; and Fig. 6 is a partial side and end elevation of a box-ear, showing the arrangement and application of the uncoupling mechanism.

Referring to the drawings,A represents the draw-head, which is so constructed as to provide the recess orcompa-rtment a tor the reception of the coupling. This recess is somewhat larger than the mouth A of the draw-head, which permits the coupling-jaws B B to spread apart, so as to engage with or disengage from the enlarged book ends a of the arrow-headed coupling-barB .Thecoupling-jaws are formed of a singlepieee and are bentaround at the rear end, forming a spring-bow, which is retained in place by the draft-pin B The abutting-pin a serves to prevent the coupling-iron from being forced back from the drat'tpin B On the sides of the coupling-jaws B B are placed the springs 11 b, one end ot'each being rigidly attached to the inner surface of the draw-head, while the opposite ends have frictional contact with the sides of the couplingjaws, all as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The springs serve to retain the jaws in close engagementwith the coupling-bar, and also to prevent the jaws from spreading by thevibra tions of the car. The semicircular stop-pin a prevents the coupli ng-bar B from entering the recessed draw-head beyond this point.

The elongated cams CC are placed between the parts forming the coupling-jaws, and when rotated serve to spread the jaws and uncouple the cars. The cams G O are secured in relation to each other by the dowelpin P, which arrangement readily permits the rotation of I either of the cams independently of the other.

To the upper cam, O, is attached the stem d, projecting through the upper side of the drawhead, where it is provided with the crank-arm d, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The

chain or cord d forms the connection between the crank-arm and the lower end of the operating-lever D, the upper end of this lever projectin g above the top of the car for the purpose of allowing the car to be uncoupled from this point. The curved ratchet-bard serves to lock the lever D in thedesired position. Thelower earn, 0, is provided with the stem d projecting downward and through the under side of the draw-head, which is also provided with the double-crank arm D, to the perforated ends of which are attached the chains or cords D ,connecting with the inner ends of the bell-cranks D located at each side of the car, the opposite projection of the bell-cranks being connected with the operating lever or levers D attached tothesideoftheear,close to the bottom,through the medium of the chain or cord E. By this arrangementthe process of uncoupling the car may be accomplished from either side by a person standing on the ground, the ratchet baror bars E serving to hold the lever D at any desired point.

The coupling'bar B is provided with the arrow-headed ends a, the rounded surfaces of which conveniently enter the flaring mouth of the draw-head, spreads apart, and engages with the jaws B B. The flaring rectangular mouth of the draw-head permits cars of varying heights to readily couple together. By the movementot either of theoperating-levers the upper or lower cam, as the case may be, is retated, so as to bring the longest part to bear against the inside of and spread apartthejaws,

thus disengaging them from the arrow-headed coupling-bar, which has the effect of uncoupling the cars.

Fig. 4 is a modification showing how thejaw parts may be formed in two distinct halves and provided with perforated hinge-projections at the rear ends, through which thedraft-pin may be inserted, uniting the parts together.

Fig. 5 is a inoditication showing an arrowhead Welded to the ordinary coupling-link, adapting the old and new styles to couple together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an automatic coupling ClVl0(,tll6C0l1]- bination, with the draw-head A, and the couplingjaws B B, of the doubleelongated cams O 0, whereby the process of uncoupling may be performed from the top of the car or from either side, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the elongated cams O G, of the dowel-pin P, whereby the cams are retained in their proper position relative to each other, and each adapted to be rotated independently of the other, substantially as and for the'purpose set forth.

CHARLIE VAN SMITH. 

